Construction of bodies of motor and other vehicles



F. M. CHARLE S. CONSTRUCTION OF BODIES OF MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES APPLICATION FILED FEB. 26, 1919- v Patented June 8, 1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

INVE

NTUR E/ cfi a/rles.

- I ATTORNEY F. M. CHARLES.

CON8TRUCTION 0F BODIES 0F MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED 'FEB 25,1919.

1,342,664. Patented June 8, 1920. v

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

INVENTUR FM GfiwrZes.

ATTORNEY F. M. CHARLES.

CONSTRUCTION OF BODIES 0F MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 26-, 1919- Paten ted June 8, 1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- FERNAND MAURICE CHARLES, OF IVER HEATH,- ENGLAND,

coNsTnUoTIoN or BODIES or MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES.

nsaaeea.

Specification of Letters late'nt.

Patented June 8, 1920.

Application filed February 26, 1919. Serial No. 279,390.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, 'FERNAND MAURICE CHARLES, a subject of the King of Great.

Britain and Ireland, and residing at Brackenwood, Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire,

/ which the following'is a specification.

This invention relates to the construction of bodies of motor and other vehicles, either complete or in sectional parts.

Hitherto when these have been made of sheetmetal their manufacture has involved considerable labor and especially so when the bodies are of a curved profile orform. In comparison with the latter, rectangular or straight shapes involve the cutting out of the sheet metal, bending thereof in one plane only so that but little skill is required; but in a body possessing curved outlines considerable labor is involved in covering the internal structure with a sheet of metal properly hammered to shape, the latter operation involving a very slow process which is carried out successfully only through the employment of very highly skilled labor.

The object of the present invention is to overcome the difficulties which have, been hitherto experienced in the manufacture of such articles, to lessen the labor involved, to increase the speed of production and the exact and standardized reproduction of the body, 'as well as the spare and other parts thereof.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure l is a perspective View of one form of motor body which may be constructed according to the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view in side elevation of an electrolytic plant that may preferably be used in connection with the present invention.

Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2,

Fig. f is a cross section of a mold or pattern for forming a door of the body and also shows the deposited layer as just removed.

Fig. 5 is a.perspective view of the mold in Fig. 4:. A

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the depos ited layer.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of one of the sectional parts with a reinforcement applied thereto.

F g. 8 is a cross section of Fig. 7.

F 1g. 9 is a longitudinal section of the vat and,

Fig. 10 is a transverse section thereof.

In carrylng the invention into effect, the motor body caFig. 1, may be constructed as a single unit or may be built up from a number of separate sectional units 'each formed wholly or partly by electrodeposit1on. Thus the body may be composed of a rear section 5, intermediate section 0, front or dashboard section d and doors 6, and in the following description there is described the manufacture of a door panel by way of example.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 4: and 5, the pattern or mold f corresponding in shape and'curvature with a door, is recessed or grooved at g and g to receive suitable frame bars h and I: which are made up in advance. These bars in the example shown are of respectively T and angle section as indicated in Fig. 4 and when in position on the pattern they lie flush with the exterior. The pattern is made of wood, metal, or any other suitable material and after having been rendered a conductor of electricity, it is ready to undergo electrolysis. If further strength is necessary provision may be made for transverse frame bars, and such pattern may, if desired, be made in sections capable of being taken apart.

The mold thus prepared constitutes a cathode member Z and as shown in Figs. 3 and 10 is combined with an anode member m in such a way that together the two members form a box-like container or bath which is fitted with the necessary current leads leading to a generator diagrammatically shown in Fig. 10, and the usual insulation is provided to prevent short circuiting. Preferably one long wall of the bath is formed wholly or partly of the material it is desired to use, for example copper, and

forms the anode, spaced apart from which is the other wall or cathode, consisting of the mold, these members being separated by insulation n.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 2, the electrolytic plant which it is preferred to employ in connection with the. invention may comprise an upper tank 0 supported by girder framing p, such tank containing a suitable electrolyte such as a solution of sulfate of copper and dilute sulfuric acid,

'when copper is the metalto be deposited.

The bottom of the tank 0 has an outlet 9 controlled by a -valve 1' which is manually operable by a rod 8, lever 25, fulcrumed at u, and a chain or rod '0 within reach of the operator on the ground. If desired, the liquor in the tank may be under pressure, com-' pressed air for example, and when the valve 1' is opened, the liquor passes into arose or distributing head w from which depends one or a series of flexible pipes w of rubber or other suitable material. The two part container or vat is arranged in position on k the floor y beneath the tank 0 and the ends dation 2. A return pipe 3 is provided which extends from the tank a up to the tank 0 whereby the liquor may be passed up into the latter by means of the pump 4 which is indicated as beingdriven by an electric motor 5 which may also drive a dynamo to supply the necessary current for the electrolytic vat. The lower end of the return pipe 3 is fitted with a filter or screen, and access to the upper tank is afiorded by the ladder shown.

As shown in Figs. 9 and 10, the vat 1s constituted by side members Z and m, separated by end insulating members n which may be made of cellulose fiber or other suitable material- The four-sided container is closed'in by topand bottom plates 9 and 10. The parts are detachably clamped together by' means of hinged clamps 11, as shown. i

By arranging the electrolytic vat in the manner shown, a vigorous'circulation of the electrolyte is maintained over all the surfaces to be plated, by means of the pump shown, or the pressure in the upper. tank,

' .or both combined, so as to insure a considerable degree of friction on the depositing surface and to maintain a rich supply of the desired metal at the cathode while any local impoverishing of the active liquor is prevented. The flow velocity is variable by controlling the action of the pump accord- 55' ingly.

When a sufliciency of metal has been de-' posited, the electric leads to the vat are disconnected, the valve 1' is closed and the vat is allowed to empty into the lower tank. The vat is then removed and then opened or taken apart and the thin deposited metal sheet 6 with its adhering frame bars removed from the pattern. The door panel thus formed may then if des red be strengthened or reinforced and th s is effected preferably as shown in Figs. 7 and 8, according to which the space between the frame bars h, k, is filled in with wire mesh 7 expanded metal, or so forth, after which a layer 8 of pulp is applied to the mesh which is pressed through the interstices so that a firm. solid backing is obtained to the sheet 6. The reinforcing medium may suitably consist of sulfite cellulose, cellulose acetate product, papier mach, wood pulp or other suitable or similar plastic and moldable material.

From the foregoing it will be understood that any of the sections 6 to e of a car body may be manufactured by electrolysis or two or more may be made simultaneously. If desired and instead of the method above described, the framingmay first be built up and the wire mesh and pulp reinforcement applied, after which the structure is bodily is adapted to circulate at high speed.

Besides the production of bodies, mudguards, motor engine bonnets, dashboards and similar accessories may be manufactured by the described system of electrodeposition. -Moreover, the detailed construction of the bath and the flow velocity of the liquor will naturally depend upon the nature and shape of the article it is desired to produce without interfering with the principle of a rapidly moving electrolytic bodyof liquid.

Having now describedomy invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A process .of manufacturing motor bodies and accessory parts therefor, which consists in forming a pattern of the desired immersed in a vat through which the liquor Y profile, grooving or recessing said pattern a to receive framing bars, placing framing bars within 'the grooves formed in the pattern, rendering the surface of the pattern thus formed electroconductive, subjecting said pattern to the action of an electrolyte in a vat, passing an electric current through .said vat thereby depositing'a layer of metal upon the pattern, and removing the said layer with the framing bars attached thereto.

2. A process of manufacturing motor bodies and accessory parts therefor, which consists in forming a non-conductive pattern of the desired profile, grooving or rece'ssing said pattern to receive framing bars, placing framing bars within the grooves formed 1n the pattern, rendering the surface of the pattern thus formed electroconductive, subjecting said pattern to the action of an electrolyte in the vat, passing an electric current through said vat, thereby depositing a layer of metal upon the pattern, removlng said layer with the framing bars attached thereto, and reinforcing the said deposited metal layer.

3. A process of manufacturing motor bodies and accessory parts therefor, which consists in forming a pattern of the desired profile, grooving or recessing said pattern to receive framing bars, placing framing bars Within the grooves formed in the pattern, rendering the surface of the pattern thus formed electroconductive, subjecting said pattern to the action of an electrolyte in the vat, passing an electric current through said vat thereby depositing a layer of metal upon the pattern, maintaining a rapid circulation of electrolyte through the said bath whereby a layer of metal will be deposited upon the pattern, and removing said layer with the framing bars attached thereto.

at. A new article of manufacture, comprising an electrolytically deposited motor body part as a single layer or sheet, and framing bars attached to the said layer.

i 5. A new article of manufacture, comprising an electrolytically deposited motor body part as a single layer or sheet, framing bars attached to the said layer and reinforcement for said motor body part.

6. A new article of manufacture, comprising an electrolytically deposited motor body part, framing bars attached thereto, wire meshing mterposed between the said framing bars and a plastic moldable mass adhering to the said mesh.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

FERNAND MAURICE CHARLES. 

